I thought I heard scratching in bulkhead for a beam in my basement, so I put out a trap. Caught a mouse. Appeared to be a few inches long. Brown top with a white belly and a light colored tail. I assume he has friends with him. Should I just set traps, or is it one of those situations that by the time I see one, I probably have a large scale problem?

Had the same kind sneaking in my garage chewing up wires, etc.  I used traps, caught 4 of them so far. 

I'll stop at Home Depot and pick some up. I think they're getting in through the garage.

Keep setting the traps with peanut butter.  You'll pick them up over time.  Set the traps perpendicular to the wall with the bait side towards the wall. They have poor eyesight and use their nose hairs to guide them along the wall.   Have six traps set in my garage right now and have got four already.  That time of year.  When they get in the wall sounds like they are pulling cable at times, real noisy.

What T Bill said works. I got these from home depot, they are super easy to set and re usable. http://www.tomcatbrand.com/smg/goprod/tomcat-press-n-set-mouse-trap/prod11200004?&

What T Bill said works. I got these from home depot, they are super easy to set and re usable. http://www.tomcatbrand.com/smg/goprod/tomcat-press-n-set-mouse-trap/prod11200004?&

That's the one I have. I think I need a few more traps. Is the attractant they make more effective than peanut butter?

That's the one I have. I think I need a few more traps. Is the attractant they make more effective than peanut butter?

 

Not worth the expense.  Peanut butter is the go to thing here,  Want a better trap, do the five gallon bucket deal, see YT. remember to add window washer fluid in the bucket. No, so the fluid does not freeze. 

T Bill's got it right, Peanut butter is the trick, they can't steal the bait and have to work it a little which triggers the trap more often.

 

If you feel bad about killing them, or someone in your house does, I've also used these live traps and they work well: http://www.tomcatbrand.com/smg/goprod/tomcat-single-catch-mouse-trap/prod11150044?&

 

I just dump the mice in the park a few blocks away when I take the dog for a walk.

-Jim

Is the attractant they make more effective than peanut butter?

No, not for these mice. I tried the stuff and got zero hits, waste of $5. Stick with peanut butter.

Humane mouse traps, oh boy!.  BTW, do no get the sticky pads, they will drag them all over the place,  If you want to invest in a professional trap to set outdoors that also helps.  A B&G bait station is a good way to go,  Get a case of six for about $50 and they last years.

That's the one I have. I think I need a few more traps. Is the attractant they make more effective than peanut butter?

 

PB is like crack to mice. They just can't resist it. And another +1 for the tomcat traps

PB is like crack to mice. They just can't resist it. And another +1 for the tomcat traps

Okay I'll try it tonight. Thanks for the help guys.

Another +1 for PB and Tom cat snap traps. I make a game of trapping mice. My wife won't play at home so I do this at work. My coworkers and I all get the same amount of traps. We put them wherever we feel is a good place and keep score of our catches. Person with the lowest catch buys everyone elce a round at the bar.

I went with the PB. Caught one coming out from behind the dishwasher, which is directly over the boiler in the laundry room. I put a few traps around the boiler. Bleached the kitchen to remove any scent trail or potential food sources.

 

As much fun as this is, I think I need a pro to eliminate points of entry.